Autism Center for Child Development | The Power of Play

By Dr. Candice M. Lake, PhD, BCBA-D, LLP, Director of Wedgwood’s Autism Center for Child Development

I stepped out of my office recently to investigate the shrieks coming from the hallway, to find myself in the middle of quite the caper! A gorilla was on the loose, and a police officer was calling for backup on the radio of his Cozy Coupe. A firefighting dog answered the call for assistance, and together they captured the gorilla and started back toward the zoo. Giggling, the 3-year-old in the gorilla costume broke free again and darted down the hallway, looking back to watch his friends’ reactions.

Although this spirited pretend play may seem like a normal activity for preschoolers, it was a remarkable interaction for these three children, all of whom had been diagnosed with autism. Before starting therapy at Wedgwood’s Autism Center for Child Development (ACCD), these children showed very little interest in their peers, did not know how to pretend, flopped to the floor when something didn’t go their way, cried when wearing itchy clothing (such as a hairy gorilla suit), and spent much of their free time engaging in repetitive behavior such as hand flapping or spinning the wheels on toy cars. They were missing out on fundamental experiences of childhood. By teaching children with autism how to play, we increase the opportunities they experience to learn from their natural environment. Social interaction and play are crucial components of the comprehensive therapy provided at the ACCD.

To learn more about the fun and life-changing services offered visit Wedgwood’s Autism Center for Child Development or call us at (616) 965-3492.